Small article package

ABSTRACT

A small article package has a card front member having a card front member blister receiving opening, a button snap performed on the card front member, a card rear member attached to the card front member, and the card rear member has a card rear member blister receiving opening. A button depression releasably engages the button snap in interference fit and the blister package has a front panel, a rear panel, and a flange protruding from the blister package. The flange extends between the card front member and the card rear member. The blister package fits within the blister receiving opening which is sized to receive the blister package. The front panel is hinged to the rear panel. A rear panel plateau on the blister package extends upward from the flange. A depression is formed on the rear panel plateau for receiving a small article.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

When packaging small articles for retail consumption, such as flashmemory, it is helpful to display product information. Unfortunately,product information typically cannot be printed on the article itself.Placing the article within a cardboard box is typically not desirablebecause the packaging waste is excessive and the increase in volume isnot necessary. Therefore, a useful design for a small article package isneeded in the marketplace. Furthermore, the small article package shoulddecrease waste as well as be environmentally friendly, while at the sametime provide enough surface area for printing and also protect the smallarticle during shipping and handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention uses a bifold paper card having a blisterreceiving opening which is cut out in a middle portion of the card. Thebifold paper card can be formed of two separate sheets of card stock, ora single card folded at an upper edge, lower edge, left edge, or rightedge. The bifold paper card can be glued together to prevent opening.The blister receiving opening provides for retention of a flange of theblister package. While the flange is sandwiched between the upper andlower card members, the remainder of the plastic blister package isrevealed to the user. The button snap receiver can be square,rectangular or round, but preferably square or rectangular.

The blister package has a rear panel and a front panel. An intermediatepanel optionally joins the rear panel and front panel. The intermediatepanel may be folded along an intermediate panel front score or anintermediate panel rear score. The blister package is preferably formedfrom a sheet of plastic that is pressed to shape, thereby forming thethree panels, namely the front panel, rear panel and intermediate panel.The front panel preferably includes a window panel portion that ispreferably a depression on the front panel such that the front panel hasa higher level than the window panel level. The front panel furtherincludes a button snap which is an indentation forming a button which isgrasped by a depression formed in the rear panel. The rear panel has aprotruding flange, preferably protruding along an upper edge, left edge,right edge and bottom edge. The rear panel has a rear panel plateau at ahigher level than the flange. The intermediate panel is given leewayfrom an intermediate panel flange notch formed in the rear panel, and anintermediate panel plateau notch formed in the rear panel. At a loweredge of the rear panel plateau, a grip depression is formed as aspherical profile indentation. The rear panel plateau includes a pair ofrear panel side walls, and a rear panel bottom wall.

Optionally, the blister package further includes an SD card depressionfor storing an SD sized and shaped flash memory card. The carddepression is above a rectangular depression. The memory card depressionis bounded at a top portion by a top tab, and bounded at a bottomportion by a bottom tab. The top tab extends over a top edge of thememory card, and the bottom tab extends over a bottom edge of the memorycard. The rectangular depression forms a rectangular cavity below thememory card. The rectangular cavity can be used to store paperinstructions, such as a folded sheet of paper. The front panel ispreferably substantially flat, except for the window panel and the pairof button snaps.

In an alternate corner snap embodiment, the button snap can be formed asa corner snap. The corner snap embodiment front panel is not flat, butrather has a depression on a bottom surface of the front panel with fourcorners extending downward. The rear panel plateau in the corner snapembodiment has four corner snap depressions receiving four corners ofthe front panel. The alternate corner snap embodiment may include a slotfor a USB Key. Alternatively, the slot can be in the shape of a memorycard for retaining a memory card. The slot can also receive and be inthe shape of a clamshell container holding a memory card.

The corner snap embodiment may further include a lower wall extendingaround the rear panel plateau. A rear panel bottom wall gap optionallyprovides a rectangular depression for retaining a rectangular objectbelow the USB Key or memory card clamshell container. The rectangularobject can be a small instruction booklet made of a folded sheet ofpaper. The rectangular object can also be promotional materials,advertising, a product manual, product registration or other paperproduct.

A number of variations in the design of the present invention may bedesirable. The intermediate panel can be made with only the intermediatepanel front score, or with only the intermediate panel rear score sothat there is a single joint on the intermediate panel instead of adouble joint. The intermediate panel is made longer when single jointed.The intermediate panel becomes a part of the front panel when theintermediate panel front score is omitted, and the intermediate panelbecomes a part of the rear panel when the intermediate panel rear scoreis omitted.

The blister package can be flipped upside down so that the button snapsare at the top and the hinge or hinges of the intermediate panel allowthe front panel to fold downward. The blister package can also beoriented 90° to place the intermediate panel at a right side or leftside, which allows the front panel to open like a book, or reversed froma standard book opening configuration when the intermediate panel is onthe right side. The button snaps can be relocated on the front panel sothat they are closer together in the middle, or further apart on thesides.

The button latch can be made as a round circular depression, a squaredepression, or a rectangular depression. The round button latch ispreferred for insertion into a square button snap receiver.

The package can also be reversed with respect to the card so that theproduct package front faces in an opposite direction away from the frontpanel rather than in the same direction with the front panel. Becausethe blister package is preferably made of transparent plastic, thereversal of the package when flipped provides viewing of the contents inthe rectangular depression when the product is displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of five plan views of the present invention, withfront plan view surrounded by a top plan view above the front plan view,a bottom plan view of below the front plan view, a left plan view to theleft of the front plan view, and a right plan view to the right of thefront plan view.

FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view-of the present invention with thecard.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the joint area in open and closed position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate corner snap embodiment.

The following callout list of elements may assist in identifying theelements of this invention.

-   102 Bifold Card Front Member-   104 Bifold Card Rear Member-   110 Rear Panel-   121 Flange-   122 Rear Panel Sidewall-   131 Rear Panel Bottom Wall-   132 Grip Depression-   135 Rear Panel Bottom Wall Gap-   140 Lower Wall-   150 Intermediate Panel-   152 Intermediate Panel Rear Score-   153 Intermediate Panel Front Score-   151 Intermediate Panel Flange Notch-   126 Intermediate Panel Plateau Notch-   125 Rear Panel Plateau-   161 Bottom Tab-   162 Top Tab-   210 Front Panel-   221 Window Panel-   222 Button Snap-   228 Corner Snap-   229 Corner Snap Depression-   284 Product Slot-   281 Square Button Snap-   282 Card Depression-   283 Rectangular Depression-   284 Package Slot-   298 Square Button Snap Receiver-   818 Printed Material-   888 Flash Memory Device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention uses a bifold paper card 102, FIG. 5 having ablister receiving opening which is cut out in a middle portion of thecard 102. The bifold paper card can be formed of two separate sheets ofcard stock, or a single card folded at an upper edge, lower edge, leftedge, or right edge. A single card sheet folded has a bifold card frontmember 102 and a bifold card rear member 104, and each card member has ablister receiving opening to form a pair of blister receiving openings.The bifold paper card can be glued together to prevent opening. Theblister receiving opening provides for retention of a flange 121 of theblister package. While the flange 121 is sandwiched between the upper102 and lower card 104 members, the remainder of the plastic blisterpackage is revealed to the user. The button snap receiver 298 can besquare, rectangular or round, but preferably square or rectangular.

The blister package has a rear panel 110 and a front panel 210. Anintermediate panel 150 optionally joins the rear panel 110 and frontpanel 210. The intermediate panel 150 may be folded along anintermediate panel front score 153 or an intermediate panel rear score152. The blister package is preferably formed from a sheet of plasticthat is pressed to shape, thereby forming the three panels, namely thefront panel 210, rear panel 110 and intermediate panel 150. The frontpanel 210 preferably includes a window panel depression portion 221 thatis preferably a shallow depression on the front panel such that thefront panel has a higher level than the window panel level. The frontpanel further includes a button snap 222 which is an indentation forminga button which is grasped by a button depression formed in the rearpanel. The button depression snugly receives the button snap 222 toprovide a reusable, releasable and reclosable interference fit on aportion of the exterior surfaces of the button snap. The button snap andbutton depression have slight deformation during engagement. The rearpanel 110 has a protruding flange 121, preferably protruding along anupper edge, left edge, right edge and bottom edge. The rear panel has arear panel plateau 125 at a higher level than the flange. Theintermediate panel is given leeway from an intermediate panel flangenotch 151 formed in the rear panel, and an intermediate panel plateaunotch 126 formed in the rear panel. At a lower edge of the rear panelplateau, a grip depression 132 is formed as a spherical profileindentation. The grip depression is sized to allow grasp of a lower edgeof the front panel. The rear panel plateau 125 includes a pair of rearpanel side walls 122, and a rear panel bottom wall 131.

Optionally, the blister package further includes an SD card depression282 for storing an SD sized and shaped flash memory card. The carddepression 282 is above a rectangular depression 283. The memory carddepression 282 is bounded at a top portion by a top tab 162, and boundedat a bottom portion by a bottom tab 161. The top tab 162 extends over atop edge of the memory card, and the bottom tab 161 extends over abottom edge of the memory card. The rectangular depression forms arectangular cavity below the memory card. The rectangular cavity can beused to store paper instructions, such as a folded sheet of paper. Thefront panel is preferably substantially flat, except for the windowpanel and the pair of button snaps. The pair of button snaps can besquare button snaps 281, FIG. 3 or round button snaps 222, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the present invention. The flange iscaptured between the bifold card front member 102 and the bifold cardrear member 104. The bifold card front member 102 can be printed on bothsides, namely in color on the outside and in black and white on theinside. The bifold card rear member 104 can be printed on both sides,namely in color on the outside and in black and white on the inside. Thebifold card can be glued at breakaway areas so that a user can unfoldthe card to reveal a black and white message printed between the bifoldcard front member 102 and the bifold card rear member 104.

In an alternate corner snap embodiment, the button snap can be formed asa corner snap 228. The corner snap 228 embodiment front panel is notflat, but rather has a depression on a bottom surface of the front panelwith four corners extending downward. The rear panel plateau in thecorner snap embodiment has four corner snap depressions 229 receivingfour corners of the front panel. The alternate corner snap embodimentmay include a package slot 284 for a rectangular article such as a USBKey. Alternatively, the package slot 284 can be in the shape of a memorycard so that the package slot retains a memory card. The slot can alsoreceive and be in the shape of a clamshell container for holding amemory card. Clamshell containers for holding memory cards are typicallyrectangular articles.

The corner snap embodiment FIG. 8, or other embodiments may furtherinclude a lower wall 140 extending around the rear panel plateau. A rearpanel bottom wall gap 135 optionally provides a rectangular depressionfor retaining a rectangular object below the USB Key or memory cardclamshell container. The rear panel bottom wall gap 135 can also beimplemented instead of the grip depression 132. The rectangular objectcan be a small instruction booklet made of a folded sheet of paper. Therectangular object can also be promotional materials, advertising, aproduct manual, product registration or other paper product. FIG. 7shows the location of printed material 818 relative to the location of aflash memory device 888. The flash memory device can be a USB Key ormemory card, or any clamshell container with a USB Key or memory cardinside.

A number of variations in the design of the present invention may bedesirable. The intermediate panel can be made with only the intermediatepanel front score, or with only the intermediate panel rear score sothat there is a single joint on the intermediate panel instead of adouble joint. The intermediate panel is made longer when single jointed.The intermediate panel becomes a part of the front panel when theintermediate panel front score is omitted, and the intermediate panelbecomes a part of the rear panel when the intermediate panel rear scoreis omitted.

The blister package can be flipped upside down so that the button snapsare at the top and the hinge or hinges of the intermediate panel allowthe front panel to fold downward. The blister package can also beoriented 90° to place the intermediate panel at a right side or leftside, which allows the front panel to open like a book, or reversed froma standard book opening configuration when the intermediate panel is onthe right side. The button snaps can be relocated on the front panel sothat they are closer together in the middle, or further apart on thesides.

The button latch can be made as a round circular depression, a squaredepression, or a rectangular depression. The round button latch ispreferred for insertion into a square button snap receiver. The buttonis a protrusion which has sidewalls that press against respectivesidewalls of the snap receiver.

The package can also be reversed with respect to the card so that theproduct package front faces in an opposite direction away from the frontpanel rather than in the same direction with the front panel. Becausethe blister package is preferably made of transparent plastic, thereversal of the package when flipped provides viewing of the contents inthe rectangular depression when the product is displayed. Packagereversing can be accomplished simply by printing contents of the card sothat the graphic printing of the card reverses the front of the packagewith the rear of the package.

Generally, it is preferred that the card 102 hold the blister package atthe bottom with a large printable area above for providing graphics.However, depending upon the orientation of the graphics, the bottom ofthe card 102 could be the top of the card 102, or a side of the card102. Simply printing the graphics in a different orientation can flipthe blister package, or turn it in a variety of different directions.While it is not preferred to have a round blister package, or a roundcard 102, it is possible to have such configurations according to thestylistic needs of the retail market.

A user may remove the blister package from the card members by peelingapart the card front member from the card rear member. The user may thenuse the blister package as a compact carrying case. The flange cornersare preferably rounded, and the corners of the front panel are alsopreferably rounded. The blister package is suited for storage of a flashmemory device such as a USB drive or flash memory card.

1. A small article package comprising: a. a card front member having acard front member blister receiving opening; c. a card rear memberattached to the card front member, wherein the card rear member has acard rear member blister receiving opening; d. a button depressionreleasably engaging a button snap in interference fit; e. a blisterpackage with a front panel, a rear panel, and a flange protruding fromthe blister package, wherein the flange extends between the card frontmember and the card rear member, wherein the blister package fits withinthe blister receiving opening which is sized to receive the blisterpackage, wherein the front panel is hinged to the rear panel, whereinthe button snap is formed on either the front panel or the rear panelfor engaging the button depression formed on either the rear panel orthe front panel; f. a rear panel plateau on the blister packageextending upward-from the flange; and g. a depression formed on the rearpanel plateau for receiving a small article, wherein the front panel hasan open position and a closed position, wherein the front panel opensfrom a front of the small article package to reveal an opening of thedepression, wherein opening the front panel does not tear the card frontmember or the card rear member.
 2. The small article package of claim 1,further comprising: a window panel depression on the front panel suchthat the front panel has a higher level so as to protrude less from aplane defined by the card front member than the window panel level. 3.The small article package of claim 1, further comprising: a lower edgeof the rear panel plateau; and a grip depression formed as anindentation on the lower edge of the rear panel plateau.
 4. The smallarticle package of claim 1, wherein the button depression has a squareor rectangular profile and wherein the button snap has a round profile.5. The small article package of claim 1, further comprising: anintermediate panel hinged between the rear panel and the front panel,wherein the card rear panel is hingedly attached to the card front panelvia the intermediate panel, wherein the intermediate panel has anintermediate panel rear score disposed between the intermediate paneland the rear panel in jointed configuration.
 6. The small articlepackage of claim 5, further comprising: an intermediate panel frontscore wherein the intermediate panel front score is disposed between theintermediate panel and the front panel, wherein the card rear panel ishingedly attached to the card front panel via the intermediate panel ina double-jointed configuration.
 7. The small article package of claim 5,wherein the button depression has a square or rectangular profile andwherein the button snap has a round profile.
 8. The small articlepackage of claim 5, wherein the intermediate panel is located at a topside of the blister package.
 9. The small article package of claim 8,further comprising an intermediate panel plateau notch formed in therear panel plateau, and further comprising an intermediate panel flangenotch formed in the flange of the rear panel, wherein the intermediatepanel flange notch and the intermediate panel plateau notch provideleeway for folding of the intermediate panel over a top side of theblister package.
 10. The small article package of claim 5, wherein theintermediate panel is located at a bottom side of the blister package.11. The small article package of claim 1, wherein the button snap isformed as a corner snap on the front panel, and wherein the buttondepression is formed as a corner snap depression, wherein the cornersnap releasably engages to the corner snap depression.
 12. The smallarticle package of claim 11, further comprising a lower wallcircumscribing the rear panel plateau.
 13. The small article package ofclaim 11, further comprising a rear panel bottom wall gap formed in therear panel plateau.
 14. The small article package of claim 1, whereinthe depression formed on the rear panel plateau for receiving a smallarticle is shaped to receive a flash memory USB drive.
 15. The smallarticle package of claim 1, wherein the depression formed on the rearpanel plateau for receiving a small article is shaped to receive a flashmemory card.
 16. The small article package of claim 1, wherein thedepression formed on the rear panel plateau is a rectangular depression,and further comprising a card depression in the shape of a flash memorycard formed on the rear panel plateau, wherein the rectangulardepression is deeper than the card depression, wherein the carddepression includes a top tab for grasping a top edge of a flash memorycard, and a bottom tab for grasping a bottom edge of a flash memorycard, wherein the rectangular depression can be used for storing anarticle underneath the flash memory card.
 17. The small article packageof claim 1, further comprising: a window panel depression on the frontpanel such that the front panel has a higher level than the window panellevel so as to protrude less from a plane defined by the card frontmember; a lower edge of the rear panel plateau; and a grip depressionformed as an indentation on the lower edge of the rear panel plateau,wherein the button depression has a square or rectangular profile andwherein the button snap has a round profile.
 18. The small articlepackage of claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate panel hingedbetween the rear panel and the front panel, wherein the card rear panelis hingedly attached to the card front panel via the intermediate panel,wherein the intermediate panel has an intermediate panel rear scoredisposed between the intermediate panel and the rear panel in jointedconfiguration; and further comprising an intermediate panel front scorewherein the intermediate panel front score is disposed between theintermediate panel and the front panel, wherein the card rear panel ishingedly attached to the card front panel via the intermediate panel ina double-jointed configuration, wherein the button depression has asquare or rectangular profile and wherein the button snap has a roundprofile, wherein the intermediate panel is located at a top side of theblister package.
 19. The small article package of claim 1, wherein thebutton snap is formed as a corner snap on the front panel, and whereinthe button depression is formed as a corner snap depression, wherein thecorner snap releasably engages to the corner snap depression; furthercomprising a lower wall circumscribing the rear panel plateau; and arear panel bottom wall gap formed in the rear panel plateau, wherein thedepression formed on the rear panel plateau for receiving a smallarticle is shaped to receive a flash memory USB drive.
 20. A smallarticle package comprising: a. a card front member having a card frontmember blister receiving opening; b. a card rear member attached to thecard front member, wherein the card rear member has a card rear memberblister receiving opening; c. a button depression releasably engaging abutton snap in interference fit; d. a blister package with a frontpanel, a rear panel, and a flange protruding from the blister package,wherein the flange extends between the card front member and the cardrear member, wherein the blister package fits within the blisterreceiving opening which is sized to receive the blister package, whereinthe front panel is hinged to the rear panel, wherein the button snap isformed on either the front panel or the rear panel for engaging thebutton depression formed on either the rear panel or the front panel; e.a rear panel plateau on the blister package extending upward from theflange; f. a depression formed on the rear panel plateau for receiving asmall article; g. an intermediate panel hinged between the rear paneland the front panel, wherein the card rear panel is hingedly attached tothe card front panel via the intermediate panel, wherein theintermediate panel has an intermediate panel rear score disposed betweenthe intermediate panel and the rear panel in jointed configuration,wherein the intermediate panel is located at a top side of the blisterpackage; and h. an intermediate panel plateau notch formed in the rearpanel plateau, and further comprising an intermediate panel flange notchformed in the flange of the rear panel, wherein the intermediate panelflange notch and the intermediate panel plateau notch provide leeway forfolding of the intermediate panel over a top side of the blisterpackage.
 21. A small article package comprising: a. a card front memberhaving a card front member blister receiving opening; b. a card rearmember attached to the card front member, wherein the card rear memberhas a card rear member blister receiving opening; c. a button depressionreleasably engaging a button snap in interference fit; d. a blisterpackage with a front panel, a rear panel, and a flange protruding fromthe blister package, wherein the flange extends between the card frontmember and the card rear member, wherein the blister package fits withinthe blister receiving opening which is sized to receive the blisterpackage, wherein the front panel is hinged to the rear panel, whereinthe button snap is formed on either the front panel or the rear panelfor engaging the button depression formed on either the rear panel orthe front panel; e. a rear panel plateau on the blister packageextending upward from the flange; and f. a depression formed on the rearpanel plateau for receiving a small article, wherein the depressionformed on the rear panel plateau is a rectangular depression, andfurther comprising a card depression in the shape of a flash memory cardformed on the rear panel plateau, wherein the rectangular depression isdeeper than the card depression, wherein the card depression includes atop tab for grasping a top edge of a flash memory card, and a bottom tabfor grasping a bottom edge of a flash memory card, wherein therectangular depression can be used for storing an article underneath theflash memory card.